#5 Carl Edwards

Forbes.com: NASCAR's Highest-Paid Drivers

$15.5 million
Roush Fenway Racing

NASCAR's top free agent re-signed with Roush Fenway in August in a deal worth roughly $10 million a year. Edwards lost a tiebreaker to Tony Stewart for the Sprint Cup title in 2011.

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

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NASCAR's Highest... These drivers earned the most in 2011 from their salaries and personal endorsements, as well as their share of race winnings and licensing income. Hendrick Motorsports drivers dominate the list.

(Getty Images for NASCAR)

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#10 Kasey Kahne $11 million
Hendrick Motorsports

Kahne's earnings are headed up in 2012 as he joins the powerhouse Hendrick team. He replaces Mark Martin in the No. 5 car.

(Getty Images)

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#9 Matt Kenseth $11.5 million
Roush Fenway Racing

Kenseth captured three races in 2011 and finished fourth in the final standings. He grossed $7.9 million in race winnings and bonuses.

(Getty Images)

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#8 Danica Patric... $12 million
Stewart-Haas Racing

Yahoo's most searched-for athlete joins NASCAR full-time this year with the backing of major sponsor Go Daddy. Most of her 2011 income was earned through her IndyCar racing contract and personal sponsors.

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#7 Kyle Busch $14 million
Joe Gibbs Racing

Busch set a record for most wins across the top three NASCAR series in 2010 with 24. His merchandise sales ranked fifth in 2011 behind only Earnhardt, Stewart, Gordon and Johnson.

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

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#6 Kevin Harvick $14 million
Richard Childress Racing

Harvick's third-place finish in the Sprint Cup Chase earned him a $1.9 million bonus, which gets split with his team.

(Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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#5 Carl Edwards $15.5 million
Roush Fenway Racing

NASCAR's top free agent re-signed with Roush Fenway in August in a deal worth roughly $10 million a year. Edwards lost a tiebreaker to Tony Stewart for the Sprint Cup title in 2011.

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

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#4 Jimmie Johnso... $21 million
Hendrick Motorsports

Stewart's title broke Johnson's five-year win streak. J.J. still rakes in one of NASCAR's top salaries with Hendrick. He is the betting favorite to capture the Sprint Cup in 2012.

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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#3 Tony Stewart $22 million
Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart became the first driver/owner to win the NASCAR championship since Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Stewart ranked second in merchandise sales behind only Dale Earnhardt.

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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#2 Jeff Gordon $24 million
Hendrick Motorsports

The longest driver/owner/sponsor marriage in NASCAR is Gordon, Hendrick and DuPont, who celebrate 20 years together in 2012.

(Getty Images for NASCAR)

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#1 Dale Earnhard... $28 million
Hendrick Motorsports

Earnhardt is NASCAR's top-earning driver and has the highest licensing income in the sport despite a three-year winless streak. He has been voted NASCAR's most popular driver nine times. Bill Elliott holds the record with 16 wins.

(Getty Images for NASCAR)

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